The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s new director wants to get DCSA’s critical next-generation background investigations IT system back on track, while he also keeps an eye toward the “data-centric” future at the security agency. In his first interview since taking over as DCSA director in late March, David Cattler discussed his in…

A new audit looks at how one agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) manages its cloud computing assets. The HHS inspector general looked specifically at the Administration for Children and Families. To learn more, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke to the Assistant Inspector General for Cybersecurity and IT audits, Tam…

A recent update by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the Uniform Grants Guidance, aims to give state, local, and tribal governments more autonomy on how they spend federal grant money. The update engenders more importance, with substantial amounts of money coming in from the Inflation Reduction Act. For one view of how this could all pla…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: The Biden Administration tweaks regulations for how states and cities can use federal funding. A look into whether one HHS component is properly securing its cloud information systems. Can this be? The Army has burned its software development bridges and will start over. Learn more about your …

A lot of DoD facilities — from barracks to office buildings — are in pretty bad shape, and because of consistent maintenance shortfalls, things are generally getting worse. So as part of a new strategy for its bases, the department is trying a new approach, seeking permission from Congress to test a series of pilot projects that would demolish old …

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The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset have both been around for decades. They reduce or rule out Social Security benefits for some federal retirees. A bill to repeal them has been gaining unprecedented traction. For one view of this issue, Federal News Network's Drew Friedman spoke with the staff vice president of the Nat…

The IRS’ direct file program was created to make things easier on taxpayers. Direct file, as its called, helps certain taxpayers file their tax returns for free, utilizing the the IRS website. IRS is running a pilot program this filing season and may have been a bit off when estimating how much the program will cost. That’s the finding of the gover…

The White House has given agencies until the end of the year to make sure their use of artificial intelligence is safe and fair. It tells practitioners to keep humans in the proverbial loop and to let people opt out of AI applications. And it also wants them to stop using AI if they cannot meet the safeguard rules. How feasible is all of this? For …

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: Can agencies actually do what the White House ordered for artificial intelligence? The IRS underestimated the cost of letting people file for free. Congress again ponders updating Social Security policy for non-eligible federal retirees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

A potential transfer of all space units in the Air National Guard to the Space Force will have minimal impact on the 1,000 guardsmen performing space missions in seven states, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said today. “There’s no intention to move anyone. There’s some concerns out there that I think are overblown. People will basically have sta…

The Office of Management and Budget strongly disagrees with that estimate, questioning the plausibility of GAO’s assessment. No matter what the real amount of fraud is across government -- and agencies may never truly know -- the Treasury Department is giving agencies tools to stop fraud before it starts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg…

Accountability, performance measurement, and the interplay between political appointees can get complicated. One way to improve agency performance, is to make sure people each have specific goals they are expected to meet. to go a little deeper, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with long-time federal management professor Bob Tobias. Learn more ab…

Last month, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department launched a new, interoperable Electronic Health Record (EHR) at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in Chicago. It is the first big VA facility to use the EHR. During the deployment, the agency's inspector general noticed a few challenges presented by the EHR scheduling sys…

Last year, the Commerce Department rolled out a new financial system meant to improve financial management. Things have not gone as planned. Implementation issues have resulted in National Weather Service employees not getting reimbursed and electric companies shutting off power to equipment used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: The National Weather Service's rollout of a new financial system has been less predictable than the weather. Veterans Affairs' IG has some advice for that troubled new electronic health record. Federal agency performance depends on individual accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. V…

As the second quarter of 2024 begins, there is a lot on the horizon for those who do business with the government: New regulations and laws and even the revival of a long time argument. To discuss those matters, Federal News Network's Eric White welcomed David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council. Learn more about your ad…

The Combined Federal Campaign recently wrapped up its annual effort with a Finale & Awards Ceremony. It signifies another year of giving monetary pledges or volunteering for charitable causes. To get a sense of how much was given last year, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Vince Micone, co-chair of the Combined Federal Campaign of the N…

Medicare spending is among the top drivers of the nation's expanding debt. Everyone knows it. It's not up to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to set policy, though. It's up to Congress. For some details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, James Capretta. Learn mor…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: One prescription for runaway Medicare costs. A snapshot at the generosity of local federal employees last year. How legislators could make things a little easier for those companies working with the government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

When most agencies go to the bargaining table with their federal union, there’s already a clear starting point for negotiations. Labor and management officials usually agree to reopen a handful of articles from their existing collective bargaining agreement, then discuss and implement the various changes each party wants to make. But for the Defens…

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson continues the balancing act within his own party. One week it's all about FISA. Then, of course, there are the lingering questions about helping Israel and Ukraine. For an update on what's going on in Congress this week, Federal News Network's Eric White talked with Bloomberg Government's Loren Duggan. Learn more a…

You’ve been hearing a lot about it lately, present radio program included. Federal agencies are looking at different ways to utilize artificial intelligence. But just how much of their budgets are agency leaders willing to put AI? Federal News Network's Eric White talked about that with Professor Greg Dawson of Arizona State University. Dawson rece…

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) recently gave an update on its Project Safe Delivery. It has been a year-long effort by the agency to prevent mail theft, as well as on letter carriers. For details, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Michael Martel from the USPIS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: How the Postal Service is fighting back against crimes against the mail system. A lot of agencies are talking about AI, but are they putting their money where their mouths are? The FISA fight may be over, what's next for Congress? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…